Eyebrow stencil positioning apparatus with stencil visualization lines

ABSTRACT

An eyebrow stencil positioning apparatus with stencil visualization lines that allows for the horizontal and vertical adjustment of each stencil member, right and left, independently of one another and synchronous horizontal adjustment of each stencil member, right and left, toward each other. Users adjust the stencils by pulling on a cord and cinch between the each stencil members.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,857 filed May 11, 2007 titled: Eyebrow Stencil Positioning Apparatus with Stencil Visualization Lines

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to an apparatus for the positioning of eyebrow stencils so that simulated eyebrows may be applied easily and in a manner aesthetically pleasing to the user. Various approaches to solving the difficulty of simulated eyebrow placement have been described, but all suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages:

Solutions described involving the uses of stick-on adhesive stencils are apt to lose their adhesive qualities after several uses and they offer no means of achieving symmetrical placement of the eyebrow stencils. Other solutions involve the use of a template holder wherein a holder made of cardboard or flexible plastic secures the stencils and allows for adjustment of the stencils. These template holder systems are bulky and hide much of the brow when used, making it difficult for the user to correctly predict what the appearance of the simulated eyebrow will be once it is colored or penciled. This can result in the frustrating removal of, and reapplication of the colorant.

Furthermore, these template holders are limited in movement, some offering angular movement, while others are limited to horizontal movement of the stencils. Some require a bolt-like fastener that when tightened will secure the stencils in place which may involve repeated adjustments and the requisite bolt tightening lest the stencils slip from the last adjusted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned limitations through the use of a positioning body, an elastic headband, a pair of interchangeable stencils and an adjustable cord among others, whereby the eyebrow stencils may be moved either synchronously where both eyebrow stencil elements move toward the center of the face in one uniform motion, or asynchronously, where the left hand or right hand eyebrow stencil element is made to move toward the center of the face in a motion independent of the other.

In addition, the eyebrow stencils employed in this system are transparent with a printed outline around the periphery of the stencil cut-out that serves as an aid to placement and offers a predictive visual cue as to the final appearance of the simulated eyebrow once colored. The head cord is preferably elastic and stretches to provide a tension about the head that is both tight enough to secure the stencils in place, while loose enough to allow for fine or gross adjustments in position that are retained once the user removes their hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 10′ in typical use while fitted about the head and the manner of adjusting the apparatus with the fingers;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus and various elements;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of 3 (FIG. 2) showing the positioning body 24 having the distal ends of loop 26 threaded through apertures 22 and slits 23;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of one embodiment of a positioning body having a longitudinal arcuate channel as a guide for cord 26;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the terminal end of cord 26 with a rectangular member sized for insertion into each of slits 23;

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the terminal end of head cord 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, this invention is directed to an eyebrow stencil positioning apparatus with visualization lines for the application of simulated eyebrows and specifically to the use of the apparatus with stencil template pairs 18 which include a right stencil element and a left stencil element both made of a transparent material, and both preferably of die cut clear flexible plastic, having a printed outline 13 about the periphery of the stencil cut-out 12; the printed outline on the transparent substrate being an aid in visualization so that a user can quickly see how the eyebrow marking will appear before application of same.

FIG. 1 shows the present invention 10′ in a typical use applied to the face of a user and the position of the user's hands when actively positioning the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the instant invention 10′ with a positioning body 24 preferably made of a material such as plastic or tempered card stock, and having two circular apertures 22 through which a cord 26 preferably non-elastic, is threaded. The distance between the circular holes 22 is sufficient to allow the placement of the user's index finger between the circular holes 22 on the centerline of the positioning body 24 and to press against the user's brow just between the eyes. Two cord crimps 20 are affixed at the terminal ends of the cord 26 to prevent it from pulling free of the stencil pair 18. When interchanging stencil pairs 18, cord 26 may be slipped free of the stencil pairs 18 by passing the two cord crimps 20 through the rectangular shaped apertures 23 in each of the stencil elements.

Cord 26 may be made of any material that is flexible and compressible, yet does not stretch, such as nylon, polyester, or polyester-cotton blends. The cord crimps 20 are fitted through the two generally rectangular shaped holes 23 in each one of the stencil pairs 18, thus securing the stencil pair 18 to the positioning body 24. The relationship between the thickness of the cord 26 and the circular apertures 22 of the positioning body 24 is such that when the non-elastic cord 26 is pulled with the fingers of one hand through the apertures, it is constricted while expanding once on the other side. In this way the cord 26, once positioned, will retain its position through friction and will hold the stencil pair 18 comfortably snug against the brow, thus freeing the hands for the application of the eyebrow colorant.

There are three basic movements associated with the manipulation of the cord 26 using the positioning body 24:

1) If the cord 26 is pulled from the center, each member of the stencil pair 18 will move together toward the centerline of the face along a horizontal axis in a substantially synchronous manner. 2) Pulling the cord 26 at the center-right position will move the right stencil element toward the centerline of the face independently of the left stencil element. 3) Pulling the cord 26 at the center-left position will move the left stencil toward the centerline of the face independently of the right stencil. Once each member of the stencil pair 18 are positioned in this manner, finer adjustments are possible along the vertical axis by pulling either the left or right stencil element up or down.

Each stencil cutout 12 has a dark fine printed outline 13 along its periphery, which during and after positioning, will sufficiently simulate the appearance of an eyebrow to make it easier for the user to judge how the actual simulated eyebrow will appear once it is filled in with a colorant. Also shown in FIG. 2, are two circular holes 14 at the upper corner of each member of the stencil pair 18 and a length of elastic cord 28 that has a tubular crimp 16 affixed to each of its terminal ends, which may be accomplished with an end knot 34 (FIG. 7). Each tubular crimp 16 is passed lengthwise through one of the two circular holes 14 thereby securing the elastic cord to each member of the stencil elements 18. The elastic cord 28 will stretch to fit the range of normal adult head sizes.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the positioning body 24 and cord 26 passing through apertures 22 and then through apertures 23 of each member of the stencil pair 18. Cord 26 must be threaded through apertures 22 prior to affixing cord crimps when constructing the instant invention.

FIG. 4 shows a partial detail view of another embodiment of the positioning body 24 with a longitudinal convex protrusion 30 on the top of 24 and a matching recess along the bottom. In this arrangement, cord 26 does not protrude from the bottom of the positioning body 24 as would be the case without the convex protrusion, but rather exits the sides at the outlets of the recess so the positioning body is permitted to rest flush against the user's brow and whereby the non-elastic cord 26 may move freely without rubbing against the user's brow. The loop formed in cord 26 passes through circular apertures 22 and may be pulled from the center, the left or right moving each member of the stencil pair accordingly.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 6 showing the retention member 20 covering the terminal end. Both ends of cord 26 are terminated thusly.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the terminal end of cord 26 with a retention member 20 sized for insertion into each of slits 23. The stop members 20 may be glued on the end of cord 26, or preferably heat fused, the advantage of which will be understood by one skilled in the art;

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the head cord 28 having a retention member in the form of a tubular stop 16. The head cord ends may be threaded through an aperture in the center of the tubular stop and knotted 34 on the other side to secure. Apertures 14 (FIG. 2) are large enough to permit the passing end wise through of the tubular stop 16, but will secure the stencil template pairs 18 to the head cord 28. 

1. An eyebrow stenciling apparatus comprising: a positioning body having top side and a bottom side; and, two symmetrically positioned apertures through said positioning body; and, a first cord forming a loop, in which each side of said loop protruding from each of said symmetrically positioned apertures; and, a first pair of retention members affixed to the distal ends of said first cord; and, a second cord for the retention of said apparatus to a human head; and, a pair of transparent stencil members, left and right, each having i) a stencil aperture with a printed outline about the periphery of said stencil aperture, and, ii) an first aperture for the placement therethrough of one distal end of said first cord; and, iii) a second aperture for the placement therethrough of one distal end for said second cord; and, a second pair of retention members affixed to the distal ends of said second cord.
 2. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said symmetrically positioned apertures having formed a longitudinal protrusion therebetween defining a recess on the bottom side of said positioning body for channeling of said first cord out the sides of, and substantially flush with said bottom side of said positioning body.
 3. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said positioning body is between said pair of transparent stencil members.
 4. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which pulling on left bend of said loop pulls said left stencil member to the right, and in which pulling on right side of said loop pulls said right stencil member to the left, and in which pulling the middle of said loop pulls said left and right stencil members toward one another.
 5. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said stencil members may be moved vertically in relationship to one another and in unison.
 6. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said positioning body placed substantially between the brows of a human head.
 7. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stencil element set comprising multiple pairs of matched right and left washable stencil elements that may be interchangeably added and removed from said apparatus.
 8. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said first cord is elastic.
 9. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said second cord is elastic.
 10. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said aperture for the placement therethrough of one distal end of said first cord and said aperture for the placement therethrough of one distal end of said second cord are rectangular slits.
 11. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said stencil aperture, said first aperture and said second aperture of each of said stencil members is die cut, with each stencil member being flexible transparent plastic.
 12. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said positioning body is made of a thermoplastic.
 13. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said positioning body is made of a tempered cardstock.
 14. The eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 in which said first cord forming a loop is may be slide-ably pulled through each of said symmetrically positioned apertures which form a stricture in said first cord forming a loop.
 15. A method of applying eyebrow stenciling using the eyebrow stenciling apparatus of claim 1 comprising the steps: a) putting said apparatus over a human head; and, b) pre-positioning each of said stencil apertures with over each brow; and, c) making fine adjustments by pressing said positioning body between the brows with one index finger, and pulling on said first cord forming a loop to adjust the position of said stencil apertures using said printed outlines as a guide; and, d) releasing said eyebrow stencil apparatus to maintain position; and, e) using makeup to apply eyebrow outlining within the borders of said stencil apertures. 